[George W. Bush]

In the Revolutionary War, only thirty per cent of Americans did the fighting and dying, the rest sat on their hands or aided the King. Always, the majority that did nothing, enjoy what was bought by the blood of the few.

Actually, the entire population of the new republic ended up paying considerably higher taxes for the rest of their lives. Previously, Britain had paid the costs of defending them. After independence, they had to pay for their own defence against Indians and the French and an annoyed Britain.

The entire revolution was about taxation without representation. Britain was trying to tax the colonies to help defray part of the costs of protecting them. The colonies wouldn't allow it without representation in Parliament, something the ruling class of Britain would never grant to the rabble colonist scum (that would be us).

Eventually, the colonies benefitted from domestic manufacture, having previously been forbidden to manufacture and only supplying raw materials to Britain's industries. Empires always operate this way unless they are merely looting gold or other precious commodities. But that much greater long-term economic benefit to ordinary Americans came long after the Revolution, when significant manufacturing and export markets and infrastructure were developed.

[cynicom]

At the end of the Revolutionary war many Americans moved to Canada. So there was an example for future Americans to follow.

[Moonman62]

Eventually, the colonies benefitted from domestic manufacture, having previously been forbidden to manufacture and only supplying raw materials to Britain's industries.

The American IPO had very little earnings, a highly devalued stock, heavily in debt and virtually bankrupt. Many FReepers would have called it a scam. (And the first CEO had to borrow money to pay his own relocation expenses.)